Finding 1168469 (2025-002)

Material Weakness Repeat Finding
Requirement
I
Questioned Costs
-
Year
2025
Accepted
2026-01-08
Audit: 380288
Organization: Town of Amite City (LA)

AI Summary

  • Core Issue: The Town paid the same contractor invoice twice, leading to a duplicated cost of $37,430.
  • Impacted Requirements: Non-Federal entities must avoid unnecessary or duplicative purchases as per 2 CFR § 200.318(d).
  • Recommended Follow-Up: Develop and implement written procedures to ensure staff review past purchases before initiating new ones.

Finding Text

Criteria: Per 2 CFR § 200.318(d), non-Federal entities must avoid the acquisition of unnecessary or duplicative items. Non-federal entities are required to maintain effective procurement procedures and internal controls to ensure goods and services procured with federal funds are necessary, reasonable, and not duplicative. Condition: While performing procedures over the Town’s federal grant program activity, we noted that the Town incurred a duplicated cost when it processed and paid the same contractor invoice twice. Cause: The Town has not established or implemented written procedures requiring staff to review previous purchases or confirm whether services have been performed before initiating new procurements. Effect: Failure to ensure that goods purchased and services procured are necessary and nonduplicative increases the risk of waste and mismanagement of federal funds. This may result in unallowable costs being charged to federal awards and could require repayment of questioned costs to the granting agency. Questioned Cost: $37,430. Recommendation: As discussed at item 2025-001, we recommend Town develop, formally adopt, and implement written policies and procedures to comply with Uniform Guidance (2 CFR 200). Views of responsible officials: See management’s responses to findings on Page 78.

Corrective Action Plan

All payments to contractors and vendors for the Water Sector Program are reviewed and approved by the outside consulting firm prior to payment. The outside consultant directs the Clerk as to the amount to pay and who to pay. The outside consultant acknowledged that they made the error in instructing the Town to make the payment. The State of Louisiana was contacted by the outside consultant to discuss the corrective action plan. The State advised the consultant to not make any corrections to the pay request that they would “bagout” the overpayment. Before the next pay request, the contractor returned the overpayment which was deposited into the Town’s Water Sector grant bank account.

Categories

Procurement, Suspension & Debarment Allowable Costs / Cost Principles

Other Findings in this Audit

  • 1168468 2025-001
    Material Weakness Repeat
  • 1168470 2025-003
    Material Weakness Repeat

Programs in Audit

ALN Program Name Expenditures
21.027 CORONAVIRUS STATE AND LOCAL FISCAL RECOVERY FUNDS $5.70M
66.458 CLEAN WATER STATE REVOLVING FUND $2.60M
16.738 EDWARD BYRNE MEMORIAL JUSTICE ASSISTANCE GRANT PROGRAM $4,145